Fire under investigation

A fire at a vacant house in north Leavenworth remains under investigation, a Fire Department official said.

A fire at a vacant house in north Leavenworth remains under investigation, a Fire Department official said.

Acting Fire Chief Mark Nietzke said investigators are pretty sure they know what caused Thursday’s fire at 607 N. 12th St. But he said Friday that he was waiting for more information before releasing details about the suspected cause.

The fire was reported at 1:39 p.m. Thursday. No injuries were reported.

While firefighters were en route, they were told dispatchers had received a report of an explosion at the scene. Nietzke said it looks like heat that built up in the house and caused at least one window to blow out. And he believes this explains the report of an explosion.

Fire Capt. Shawn Kell said there was smoke coming from the house when firefighters arrived.

He said a fire was discovered in the living room area. And small fires were found in two other rooms.

“We got them under control, I would say, within 20 to 30 minutes,” Kell said.

He said firefighters searched the residence for occupants, but no one was found.

Kell said electrical service to the house and natural gas were shut off. There were some contents in the house.

He said the estimated loss was $50,000 to the structure and $4,000 to contents.

“We’re still doing the investigation and interviewing some witnesses today,” Kell said Friday.

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